Heat retaining curtain



Jan. 9, 1951 D. F. WALTON HEAT RETAINING CURTAIN Filed May 22, 1948 INVENTOR fia/mLpf/lu 70/1/ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The invention herein disclosed relates to a Window curtain that is particularly adapted for reducing the transmission of heat through a window.

Heat travels through materials from the warmer to the cooler portion or side. The relative rapidity with which heat moves through materials is expressed as the coefiicient of heat transfer. The quantity of heat transferred through material of a given coefficient of heat transfer depends upon the temperature gradient, i. e. the difference in temperature between the different sides or portions of the material.

In heated buildings it is the endeavor to maintain a specified temperature inside irrespective of the outside temperature. It is common practice to install radiators under windows This practice results in a great waste of heat because 3 Claims. (Cl. 160268) window glass has a much higher coefiicient of heat transfer than the ordinary wall and because as the heated air rises from the radiator there is a greater temperature gradient between the inside and outside of the window glass than there is elsewhere in the room.

An object of this invention is to provide a window curtain that reduces the heat transfer through the window. Another object of the invention is to provide a window curtain that reduces the temperature gradient of a window pane. A further object of the invention istto provide such a curtain that is readily and easily installed. Another object of the invention is; to

provide such. a curtain that does not interfere with raising or lowering the shade or opening Fig. 2 which is a sectional elevation of the bottom rod taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 which is a sectional elevation of the bottom rod taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 which is a fragmentary, rear elevation of the rod taken on the line idof Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 which is a fragmentary, sectional, side elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, there is shown in elevation, a window casement. This window casement includes stiles l and 2, an upper rail 3, a lower rail 4, and a window sill 5 Within the window casement and mounted between stiles l and 2, there is an ordinary window shade 6. Thi window shade is mounted on fixtures sethe collar 2 l.

cured to the inner side of the stiles, which fixtures are old and well known in the art.

The heat-retaining curtain of this invention is applied to the inside of the window casement. Primarily, the curtain includes a sheet of transparent material I that is of sufficient width to overlap the inside edges of the stiles l and 2. The sheet of transparent material is also of such length that it can extend from the rail3 to the Window sill 5. Desirably, the sheet 1 is a cellulose acetate sheet of approximately one thirt second of an inch in thickness.

One end of the sheet I is secured to a tension roller 8. This tension roller 8 is of a kind that is well known and commonly used in conjunction with window shades. The tension roller 8 is mounted in fixtures 9 and It that are secured to the rail 3. At the other end, the sheet I is secured to a hold-down rod II.

The holddown rod I l is preferably longer than the width of the sheet 1. The particular rod II, illustrated in the drawing, consists of a wooden rod l2 that is somewhat oval-shaped in cross section. A sheet metal casing 43, preferably chromium-plated, extends over the front of the rod and around the top and bottom of the rod. The sheet 1 extends down the back of the rod and is secured, as by staples, to the wood rod [2. Desirably. a fabric strip is is secured to the sheet I behind the rod l2 and serves to reinforce the edge of the sheet '5 and cover the staples by means of which the sheet is secured to the wooden rod l2. Handles i5 and ['6 are secured to the rod and extend from the front surface thereof. These handles provide grips by which the curtain can be manipulated in a manner hereinafter described.

Adjacent each end of the rod, and near the side edges of the sheet I, there are openings I1 and 18 provided through the rod. These openings are'provided to receive releasable holding elements 19 and 20. At each opening, there is a metallic reinforcing collar or bushing such as The bushing 2| extends through the opening through the casing l3 andhas outwardly extending flanges Ma and 2lb which engage opposite sides of the casing [3 at the opening therethrough.

One of the holding elements, designated generally by the numeral I9, is illustrated in Figure 2. This holding element includes a shank 22 in the form of a wood screw that is screwed into the stile I, adjacent the window sill. The shank 22 extends from a hexagonal head 23 which has a cylinder 24 formed integral therewith. A spring pressed plunger 25 is mounted in the cylinder 24 and carries a slidable latch 23 that engages the flange 2Ia of the bushing 2 Lto hold the rod against the stile. When the plunger 25 is pressed into the cylinder 24, the latch 251s 3 retracted and the rod can be removed'from the holding element. As shown in Fig. 2, the outer edge of the latch 25 is wedge shaped so that the rod can be pressed over the latch, and when the collar 2! passes the latch, the latch springs into place to hold the rod against the stile. When these holding elements are properly installed, the rod I l is held against the stile and the bottom of the rod engages the window sill.

An opening 2! is also formed through the rod at the center thereof. A reinforcing collar 28 is provided about the edge of theopening through the sheet metal cover 13 of the rod, at the opening 21. This collar 28 is the same as the collar 2|. Behind the opening 21, a grooved pulley 29 is rotatablyImou-nted on the rod. lEor this purpose, there is provided a shaft 3% on which the pulley 29 is mounted. The shaft is secured to the rod vby brackets 3| and 3 2. The pulley .29 is rotatably mounted on the shaft and .is positioned centrally of the opening by bushings .33 and. The opening 21 and the pulley .29 are provided for a cord 3E5. The cord .35 is-attached .to the shade E which, when the curtain l is in place, is behind the curtain i and betweenfthe curtain and the window pane. .By means of the cord 35, the window shades may beraised and lowered without disturb ng the curtain 7.

The curtain .7 is secured .to the stiles l and 2 at spaced intervals by snap fasteners. One such snap fastener, designated generally by the .numeral 36, is illustrated in Fig. 5. II-his snap fastener consists of a male e'lement'havinga wood screw shank '22, thatis screwed into the sti e i, and aspherical sector end .3! wh ch cooperates with .a female element '33 that is seoured to the curtain 3, adjacent the side edge thereof. The element 38 is secured to the curtain l'l in the usual manner in which such snap fasteners are secured to fabrics or other sheet material. False ric strips 39 and '43 extend .along the side edges of the curtain l. These strips cover the head end of .the female elements 33. They are adhesively secured to the curta n l' and serve 'to'reinforce the edges thereof. By .virtue of the coop'eration beopen the window, it is only necessary to release therod H fromjthe elements 119 andZll, release the snap fasteners along the side edges of the curtain and the. Windowis accessible. The han- "dles I and may be used to lft the curtain when'it'is'notdesired to releasethje 'curtainffully. a.

When it is'desired to 'rem'oveithe curtain, as during warm weather, the rod is released from the element 22, the snap fasteners "disengaged and the curtain is rol ed up in the manner or the ordinarywindow shade.

Fromitheforegoing .descript' on'of the embodi ment "of the invention illustratedinfthedrawing it will be apparent that "by this, invention there is provided a heat-retaining curtain for windows. The curtam is so 'constructedas .to' p rmit free manipulation of the shade without -disturbingthe curtain. The curtain'is'readilyIre? leased from the window frame for removal or for opening or closing the'window. It is'to be noted that a "cellulose acetate sheet such as that utilized in this curtain "passes vultra-violet rays. Thus-withthis curtain in place, and'the window open, a child may receivethe benefit of.the ultra- 10 and having fastener elements secured in the violet rays of the sun without being subjected to the outside atmosphere or drafts.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawingandflescribedabove within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in -the appended claims.

I claim: 1. For a window including a Window casement window casement, a window curtain of the kind one end of the sheet oftransparent material, a holding rod secured (at the epposite tend otthe sheetof transparent materialand having open-v ingstherethroughadjacent each end thereoffor receiving certain of said fastener elements 5e; cured in the window casement, snap fasteners secured at spaced intervals along the sidevedges of the transparent sheet for releasably securing the side edges -to other of said fastener elements on the windoweca-sement, and. a reinforcing fabric strip secured to the transparent sheet along the sideedges thereofand. covering said. snap fastener 2. .For .a Windowhaving a shade mounted be, tween thestiles .thereofandla cord efastenedgto thelower edge of itlieshade a window curtain o'f thek'ind described comprising in combination a sheet of transparent material, a tension roller secured atone end of thesheet of transparent material, releasable fastening elements secured a t spacedjintervals .to and adj acent'the side edges of the transparent sheet,aholding rod'securedt-d the opposite end edge of the transparent sheet and having'an opening for the cord attachedto, the shade adjacent the center thereoffand pulley carried by the holding rod and rotatably mounted at thecord opening therethrough.

3. Fora window having a shade mounted between the stiles "thereof and a cord fastened to" the lower edge of the shade a window curtain er the kind 'descr'ibed comprising in combination n sheet of fieiiblegtransparent material, a tension roller secured'at one end of the transparent sheet, *aholdingrod secured at the otheriend'of the transparent sheet and having an open'i'n'g therethrou gh ad jacent each end thereof andzan opening there'throu'gh substantially at thecenter thereof for the cord attached'tost'he shade, .a pulley carried zby. the holding :rod :and iroitatably mounted "at the cord-opening through 'the :rod; a plurality :of snap fasteners secured to the transparent sheet iatispaced intervals along each side edge thereof, and a :reinforcing fabric strip secured to the transparent sheet along eachside edge thereof. j

DONALD F. WALTON;

.CIIEED The folowing references .are of record .in the fileof this :patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date;

LA-61,478 .Daniels '-July 10,1923

2,126,328 .Higby Aug. .9, 1933 2,343,369 ..Derman. Mar. 7-, .1946

Number Country Date 3 Germany Nov. 1:6, 

